Short test : SS RPM 6m versus Epic Renegade 6m.
Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 1:21 pm
For those wanting to learn more about these 2 kites I had the opportunity to ride theme back to back twice yesterday.
Having used Eclipse kites for 2 years and now riding Slingshot RPM's, Dimitri was nice enough to send me a 6m Epic Renegade for testing so here is a brief summary.
First off all for those of you into freestyle/wake style etc this is a dedicated wave riders point of view !
On the beach : Both kites are very well built and look durable. Slingshot has a good reputation for making solid equipment, for Epic time will tell but construction and stitching looks similar with Best kites which I believe are made in the same factory. Finish and accessories are also very good on both kites, lets just say that the RPM looks (and is) more expensive.
Side by side and although they are both rated as 6m's the Renegade is bigger (more like a 7m) than both, the RPM 6m and also my old Eclipse Kima 6m.
In the air ( 18/22knots small waves, 5'8'' surfboard, 20m lines on both kite, 65kg rider) : First impression the Renegade is more powerful ( but it is bigger) and feels heavier (more bar pressure). Turns on the RPM are faster and the kite is nimbler which is great in waves but perhaps less good for freestylers.
Renegade needs a longer throw on the bar to de-power completely (I needed to stretch my arms all the way) whereas the Rpm's de-power throw is nice and short. Although for me this is an advantage, it also means that the RPM requires more finesse to fly efficiently.
Un-hooked riding, RPM is less likely to stall.
When flying across the window the RPM's power delivery is very smooth and linear (excellent when wave riding), whereas the Renegade has a surge making it better for boosting jumps.
All in all I would say that the Renegade is the most versatile ( better jumping/easier to ride) and should appeal to many riders looking for an all-round kite, whereas the RPM is more specialized (pure wave/wake style) and will excel in the hands of the more experienced riders.
My 2 cents.
Having used Eclipse kites for 2 years and now riding Slingshot RPM's, Dimitri was nice enough to send me a 6m Epic Renegade for testing so here is a brief summary.
First off all for those of you into freestyle/wake style etc this is a dedicated wave riders point of view !
On the beach : Both kites are very well built and look durable. Slingshot has a good reputation for making solid equipment, for Epic time will tell but construction and stitching looks similar with Best kites which I believe are made in the same factory. Finish and accessories are also very good on both kites, lets just say that the RPM looks (and is) more expensive.
Side by side and although they are both rated as 6m's the Renegade is bigger (more like a 7m) than both, the RPM 6m and also my old Eclipse Kima 6m.
In the air ( 18/22knots small waves, 5'8'' surfboard, 20m lines on both kite, 65kg rider) : First impression the Renegade is more powerful ( but it is bigger) and feels heavier (more bar pressure). Turns on the RPM are faster and the kite is nimbler which is great in waves but perhaps less good for freestylers.
Renegade needs a longer throw on the bar to de-power completely (I needed to stretch my arms all the way) whereas the Rpm's de-power throw is nice and short. Although for me this is an advantage, it also means that the RPM requires more finesse to fly efficiently.
Un-hooked riding, RPM is less likely to stall.
When flying across the window the RPM's power delivery is very smooth and linear (excellent when wave riding), whereas the Renegade has a surge making it better for boosting jumps.
All in all I would say that the Renegade is the most versatile ( better jumping/easier to ride) and should appeal to many riders looking for an all-round kite, whereas the RPM is more specialized (pure wave/wake style) and will excel in the hands of the more experienced riders.
My 2 cents.